taylor



Jan. 31, 1956 L w. H. TAYLOR 2,732,877

7 BOAT COVERS FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS Filed Dec. 15, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N VEN TOR WILLARD H. TAYLOR Maw/ 65444 ATTORNEYS Jan. 31, 1956 Filed Dec. 15, 1954 W. H. TAYLOR BOAT COVERS FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLARD H. TAYLOR ATTORNEYS 2,732,877 BOAT COVERS FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS Willard H. Taylor, Gloversville, N. Y.

1 Application December 15, 1954, Serial No. 475,347

6 Claims. (01. 150-52 This invention relates to protective coverings and has more particular reference to removable covers for boats equipped with outboard motors.

One object of the present invention is' to provide a novel and improved boat cover which easily and quickly may be installed and removed and which includes a cover portion for an outboard motor when attached to the boat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved boat cover, as characterized above, in which the motor cover portion is adapted to cover the motor, when mounted on the boat, in either the vertical or tilted position and leave a protected, opening around the motor to provide ventilation of the b'oatls cockpit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a boat cover, as characterized above, which is simple and inexpensive in construction and is equally adapted to cover an outboard motor boat with or without the motor attached.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a boat cover constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted on a boat having an outboard motor attached thereto; 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the boat cover shown in Fig. 1 is fitted on the stern portion of the boat after the outboard motor has been removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the boat cover is fitted on the stern portion of the boat when the outboard motor is in tilted position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the boat cover is fitted on the stern portion of the boat when the outboard motor is in vertical position; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but showing the boat cover provided with a modified form of gusset.

The present invention provides a novel and improved cover for boats which easily and quickly may be installed and removed and includes a cover portion for an outboard motor when attached to the boat.

In general, the improved boat cover comprises a sheet of canvas or like flexible material of a size and shape to fit over the top of the particular boat which it is designed to cover. The sheet is provided with a gusset in its stern portion adapted to be pulled out to cover the motor of an outboard motor, when attached to the boat, or tucked under the main cover portion when the outboard motor is removed.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, there is illustrated one embodiment of a boat cover constructed in accordance with the present United States Patent 0 ICC invention. As there shown, the boat cover comprises a sheet 10 of canvas or like flexible material, of a size and shape to fit over the top of a boat and having an inwardly extending slit 11 formed in its stern portion; and a gusset 12 having an outer free edge with its remaining edges secured to the sheet 10 adjacent the edges of the slit 11.

The cover may be made of any suitable flexible material. Preferably, and as shown, it is made of a plurality of panels or strips of waterproof, fire-resistant duck canvas material sewn together to form a top cover portion 13 having an integral peripheral flange 14 which extends over the sides and stem of the boat and carries cooperative fastener means such as female snapfastener elements 15 positioned to cooperate with male snap fastener elements 16 mounted on the boat structure to securely hold the cover on the boat. 7

The elongated inwardly extending slit 11 formed in the stern portion of the boat cover may be provided with any suitable type of closure means such as snap buttons or other types of connecting member's, preferably, however, and as shown, tapes 17, 17 carrying cooperating slide fastener elements are secured, as by stitching, to the edges of the slit 11 to provide means for opening and closing the slit.

The gusset 12, preferably and as shown, is made of one or more panels or strips of the same material as the cover 10 and is generally triangular in outline, with the outer free edge having a hem 18 formed therein with a strip of elastic webbing secured in the hem while in extended position. The other two edges of the gusset are secured, as by stitching, to the two edges of the slit, see Fig. 3. This construction permits the gusset'to be tucked under the cover 10 and the slit 11 closed by the slide fastener, as shown in Fig. 2, when the outboard motor is removed from the boat, and to be pulled out and pulled down over the motor portion of the outboard motor when it is attached to the boat in either a tilted or vertical position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively. 'The edges of the cover 10 adjacent the outer ends of the slit'll are provided with grommets 19 and a shock absorber cord 20 is threaded therethrough and around parts of the motor housing, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to hold the cover and gusset in place to properly cover the motor and stern portion of the boat, as well as to provide a protected opening, indicated at 21, around the motor which permits ventilation of the cockpit of the boat.

When the outboard motor is removed, the shock absorber cord 19 is tied to secure the ends of the slit 11, together, as shown in Fig. 2. v

The elastic webbing in the hem in the outer edge of the gusset holds the gusset snugly against the motor housing, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5; when the outboard motor is removed and the slide fastener closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the elastic webbing contacts the gusset beneath the cover 10.

Obviously, the outer end portion of the gusset may be made of sufiicient length to completely cover the motor in either its tilted or vertical positions. A boat cover having such a modified gusset is illustrated in Fig. 6. As there shown, the cover 10 and slit 11 with its slide fastener are identical in construction to those shown in Fig. 5. However, the gusset 12 has an outer free portion 22 which extends beyond the ends of the slit a sufficient distance to enable the gusset to completely cover the motor. The gusset 12' is also provided with an outer hemmed edge 18 having an elastic webbing secured therein to cause the outer end portion of the gusset to snugly fit the motor housing. The shock absorber cord 20 holds the edges of the slit over the stern of the boat 2,732,877. Patented Jan. 31, 1956 21 on each side of the motor. The gusset 12' is also adapted to be tucked under the boat cover and the slit 11 closed by the slide fastener, as shown in Fig. 2, when the outboard motor is removed from the boat. From the foregoing, it' readily is apparent that there has been provided a novel and improved cover for a boat having provision to cover the motor of an outboard motor when attached to the boat, and equally adaptable to cover the boat when the outboard motor is removed.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What is claimed is: 1'. A boat cover for use with a boat having an outboard motor attached to its stern, comprising" a flexible sheet of a size and shape to fit over the top of the boat and be fastened at its peripheral edge portion to the upper side edges of the" boat, said cover having an elongated inwardly extending slit formed in its stern portion; fastening means for detachably securing the edges of the slit together; and a flexible motor cover member secured to the under surface of said boat cover adjacent said slit, the construction and arrangement being such that when the boat cover is mounted on the boat with the outboard motor attached thereto, said slit can be opened to permit themotor cover member to be pulled out to cover the motor andwhen the outboard motor is removed from the boat said motor cover member can be tucked under the boat cover and the edges of the slit secured together to provide complete coverage for the boat.

2. A boat cover for use with a boat having an outboard motor attached to its stern, comprising a flexible sheet of a size and shape to fit over the top of the boat and be fastened at its peripheral edge portion to the upper side edges of the boat, said cover having an elongated inwardly extending slit formed in its stern portion; fastening means for detachably securing the edges of the slit together; and a generally triangular shaped gusset underlying said slit with its outer edge portion free and with its remaining edges secured to said cover, each along one edge of said slit, the construction and arrangement being such that when the boat cover is mounted on the boat with the outboardmotor attached thereto,

said slit can be opened to permit the gusset to be pulled out" to cover the motor and when. the outboard motor is removed. from the boat said gusset can be tucked under the cover and the edges of the slit secured together to provide complete coverage for the boat.

3. A boat cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein the outer free edge of said gusset is provided with a hem having an elastic band secured therein while in its extended position,-so that when said gusset is pulled over the motor, the elastic band will cause said outer free end 2 portion of the gusset to be snugly held on the motor.

4. 'A boat cover as set forth in claim 2, including a shock absorber cord. adapted to extend around the motor housingwith its ends each secured to the boat cover adjacent the outer end of said slit to help hold the stern portion of the cover and the gusset in covering position while providing a protected opening on both sides of the motor to provide ventilation for the cockpit of the boat.

5. A boat cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein the outer. free end portion of said gusset extends a suflicient distance beyond the stem end of the boat cover to completely cover themotor either in its vertical ortilted position and has an elastic strip secured in a hem along its free edge, and including a shock absorber cord adapted to extend around the motor with its ends each secured to the boat cover adjacent the outer end of said slit to help hold the cover and the gusset in covering position. 6. A boat cover as set tortlrin claim 2, wherein the coveris formed with a depending flange around its periphery adapted to engage the upper side edge portion of the boat and carrying fastener elements adapted to be d'etachably attached to corresponding fastener elements mounted'on the boat, andwherein the fastening means for securing the edges of said slit include cooperating slide fastener elements secured to the respective edges of the slit.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNI-TED STATES PATENTS S we'den' May 2, 1944 

